Gondola car.



G. I. KING.

GONDOLA GAR.

` APPLIOATIOS XLED 81113127. 1901.

mmm .JJ-1&4, 190s. f

.1 LTS-SHEET L as... :anu a q s 0 o atraque.

l UN rTnn STATES ,PATENT oran-CE. j'

consisting preferably of commercially-rolled to the accompanying drawin 'cncaenmlrnd or DETROIT, MICHIGAN, Assrcxon 'ro AMERICAN CAR a FOUNDRY.

COMPAlI-OF'ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF, NEW JERSEY'.v

GON'DOLA CAIR..

which the following is a full, clear, and ex-v act description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference had forming part of this specification, in whic Figure 1 is a plan view of one end of my improved car;- Fig. 2 is a side elevational View thereof; Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the. underframing; Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view through one end of the car; Fig. 5,is across sectional view on line 5, 5, Fig. 3; and Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view on line 6 6, Fig. 3.

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in gondola. cars, the object being to construct a car employing structural iron or steel in the. bodyand frame-work, to obtain the greatest strength with a minimum amount of ,material employed.

.The invention shown is designed particularlyas 'animprovement upon the gondola car shown `in United States Patent No. 658,788, granted October 2, 19m), upon an applicationliled by me.

T his present invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts,'all as will hereinafter be described and afterwards pointed out in the claims. i

In the drawings 1 indicates the side sheets of the' car, which are strengthened by angleposts 2, 3, and 4, said posts being duplicated f at each side. of the car and at each end, and

structures whose cross-section is T-shapcd, or two angle-plates are arranged parallel to each other and back to back. Theseposts are vertically disposed, and the posts 2 eX- -tend beloiwtiie lower edge of the side sheets 1 opposite the ends of the body holsters 5, to w rich they are secured bv suitable rivets. The posts 3 terminate at the lower edges or' the sidesheet 1, while th'c posts 4 extend solne distance below the lower edges of the side sheets and carry cross-beams 6 at their lower ends, which cross-beams, as shown in Fig. 4, are preferably I-shaped 1n cross-section, and located beneath. the framing of the Speccation of Letters Patent;

Application led September 7, 1901. Serial No. 74,659.

lcar, which framing said I-'beams support.l A i -Patented Aug. 4, 1908.

These I-beams are attached to the lower ends of osts 4 by suitable angle'connectionsA 6l an connection-plates 7, which connectionplates are widened at their upper ends to serve as gussets and in this manner greatly strengthen the connection between thevpost 4, the lower edge of the side sheet, and the cross-beam 6. The side sheets 1 may be further strengthened at their middle portionsV and at points opposite the doors in the floor by angle-posts 8.

9 indicates an angle secured to the upper edge of the endwall, and 10 are angles attached to the upper edges of the side sheets, said angles 10 being relerably in the form of bulb angles, the bulb flanges thereof being projected horizontally and outwardly and being of substantially triangular form with rounded corners. These angles 10 form the compression danges of the side walls, which act es plate girders and the side stakes 4 are notched out or shaped at their up er ends to conform to the contour of the bul 3 flanges of the angles 10.

The length ofthe car' shown in the accom'- panying drawings in actual practice is designed to be about forty feet, the distance from 'center to center of the trucks beingl about thirty feet. This distance, thirty feet, is divided into 'three equal parts, forming panels, each of which has a span of about ten feet, said panels being defined by the posts 2, which form a. most rigid su port by bein sef cured to the bolsters 5 an the posts-l,w ich carry the cross supporting beams 6.

12 indicates the 'end sheet or end wall.

Cornerosts 16 are arranged externally the sills, as shown in Fig. 3. The usual bandholds or rods for the train-crew are provided 'on the end sheets, and steps may also be e111'- ployed on the inner faces' of the sheets to?? form foot-holds when the car is empty.

t8 indicates an angle attached to the` lower face of the side sheet for supporting thefloor-sheets, which, floor-sheets are riveted thereto along their side edges.

dium for the floor-sheets, also act as tension These angles 1S, 1n addrtlon to forming an attachlng melianges for the sidessheetsyand said angles 1'10 i i, l l l 18 also serve as light side sills by resisting the bufiing and pulling stresses at the sides of the car. The body bolster 5 is preferably in the form of an I-beam, and extends continuously from side to side of the car. This bolster is reinforced by a bott-om cover plate 24 (to which are attached the center and side bearings), and a top cover plate 22, 'said cover plate extending, preferably, nearly to the ends of the Lbeam.

21` indicates the draft sills, preferably I- shaped in section, which are attached to the end sill 17, by suitable connection plates, the top and bottom iianges thereof being riveted to the bolster cover plates, while connection plates are riveted to the 'webs thereof, and of the I-beam 5, to complete the connection.

21sL indicates d ivergiiig center sills which are preferably in the form of channels havin their flanges presented inwardly or towar each other. These center sills `While being interrupted -as hereinafter described, extend from bolster to bolster, they occupying the. position of intermediate sills at the middle section of the car. The ends of these sills adjacent the bolster are attached to flanged splice plates 21b whose flanges are riveted to e top and bottoni cover plates, and Whose web is riveted to the flanged connection plate 21, -riveted to the web of the Lbeam 5 and to the top and bottom plates.

By referring to Fig. 4, it will be observed that the draft sills 21, by reason of the connections above described, are depressed b'elow the floor line, while the diverging center sills 21 a have their top ianges flush with the top cover plate 22. The` center sills 21a make efficient door supports in conjunction with the top cover plate, and in this manner the floor plates are supported by the bolster covers, the center sills, and diagonals. One advantage of this construction is the use of short independent draft sills. The metal underfrarne is complete in itself, and is not dependent upon the floor sheets for much strength A level floor without projections or protuberances thereon is rendered possible by this construction, which Would not'be the case if the bolster cover was placed'directly upon the floor, or rested on to of the sills as is commonly done, wherein t e floor sheets have to be crimped oversaid cover lates.

24 indicates corner connection p ates secured, respectively,- to the angles 18 and to inwardly extending shelves 25 projecting from the end sill 17. Diagonal angle-braces 26 extend from the corner connection-plates'24 to thecover plate 22 of the bolster, saidl braces being crimped to support the Hoor sheets.

27 indicates connection-plates secured to the. angles 1S and at points referably in line with the posts 3. Diagona angle-braces 28 are connected to these connection plates 27 with the sheet 3 1.

plates 27 and to the floor-sheets, saidbraces extending in the .direction of points of'eonnection between the sills 21 and 23.

31 indicates the end floor-sheet, which serves as a cover-plate for the members of the undei'framing immediately therebeneath, in-

clnding the draft sills, which ineinbeisai'c attached to said floor-sheet by suitable rivets,

as shown in Fig. 1. The end of the iloor` vsheet 31 referred to terminates over the continuous bolster 5 and is riveted to one llangeA thereof through the top cover plate. lThe next adjacent floor-sheet 32 is riveted to the other top flange of the body bolster. (through the cover plate 22), forming a butt-joint Floor-sheet 32 also serves as a cover-plate for the members of the underfraining immediately therebeneath, which are riveted thereto, and this floor-sheet 32 terminates 'above the floor-beams 29, as shown in Fig. 1. The next adjacent floorsheet 33 is also riveted to the floor-beams 29,

whereby a butt-joint is l'oi'ined therebetween .g

and the sheet 32. This floor-sheet also serves as a cover-plate for the members of the underframing therebeneath and its inner edge terminates above the channel 34 arranged bctween, and attached to, the sills 23 near their outer ends.' This channel 34 serves as the end wall of the exit opening for the ioad and is preferably co-extensive in depth with the channpls 23, whereby the doors which close the exit opening for the load will find a bearing'against the bottom flanges of the sills 23 and this short cross-sill 34 (see Fig. 6).

35 indicates the side floor-sheets, which are attached to the sills 23 and the angles 1S,

said side floor-sheets being practically coextensive in length with the door opening. i 35 indicates hinge-lugs attached to the channels '23, to which the doors 37 are sccured. These doors o en downwardly and outwardly in op osite t irections and are controlled by the cliiain 38 assingover suitable sheaves and around -a (ruin 39, as usual.

While I have shown and described coinmeicially rolled structures of certain crosssection., it is obvious that otlierdornis'may be useo, and, therefore, L do not wish to be understood 'as limiting myself to the particular forms shown and described herein', except as such restrict-ions may be expressly iin sed in the claims.

n a companion application filed by me. August 10, 1901. Serial No. 71.549 (patented October 29, 1901, No. 685,451) I have. illusi trated a construction of undeifranie in which from side-sill. to side sill, tlie center sills ex bracing; center and draft sills beingr attached lsills,

substantially as described.

tend from bolster to bolster, and flanged draft sills extend from the holsters` tothe endA the bolster elements being provided with an overliaiigiiig top cover plate in the plane of the draft ii ;giiig and riveted to the top flanges of said bolster elements, said center sills and said draft sills. l did not iii my said companion application claim this combination of elements but do claim the saine here.

llaviig thus described my invention, .vhat I claim and desire to secure by Letteis Pat ent is:-

1. ln a cai', the combination with a body portion comprising metallic floor, side, and end sheets, of continuous body bolsters extending from side to side of the car, )fists arranged externally tlie'side sheets and secured to the ends of the bod holsters, and diagonal braces 2G extending rom the corners of the car inwardly, said braces being attached to the end floor-sheet; substantially Yas described.

2. In a car, the combination with the body portion coin risimr metallic floor. side. and end sheets, oi) a bollster continuous from side to side. of the car, side. sills, draft sills, end sills, and diverging center sills, said floor sheetsl being attached to all of said parts;

3. .in ay car, the combination with the body portion comprising metallic floor, side, and end sheetsl of a bolster continuous from side to side of the car, draft sills, end siiis, divergiiig center sills, and diagonal bear-ing, said to the lloor-s'lieets; substantiallyasdescribed.

4. ln a car, the combination 7with side walls iii tlic form of plate girdeis, of side sills attached to the lower edges of .said side walls and serving as tension flanges for the plate girdcrs, end sills, body bolsteis continuous from side to side. of the car. draft s'xls extending from tht` .body holsters to the end sills, and floor-sheets attached to the above nientioncd members of the under-framing; substantially as described.

ln a car, the combination ywith side walls` iii the form of plate girdeis, or' side sills attached to tlic lower edges of said side Walls and serving as tension [langes for the plate gii'dcrs, end ills, continuous body holsters, draft sills extending from the botste-rs to the end sills, diverging cent er sills whose middle sections. are parallel to each other` diagonal bracing, and lloor-sliects riveted to the inembers ol' the iindeiii'aiiiiiig and serving as a cover- )latc' therefor; substantiaily as described.

ti. Iii.a car. the combination with the body portion comprisingI metallic llooiz side, and endsheets, of posts S arranged externally the side sheets, connection-plates secured to the side-sheets.opposite the posts, and diagonal i bracing secured to said connection-plates and to the Hoor-sheets; substantially as described.

T- In a car, the combination with thi-'body portion comprising metallic floor, side, and end sheets, of center sills extending longituh*really the body portion, posts secured to tite side-sheets and extending below thesheets, said floor-sheets heilig attached thereto and serving as a coVer-plate therefor, emsxbeams arranged under said sills for supporting the same, said beams being attached to-tie lower ends of said posts, and conncctioiplates attached to the sidc-sheets and to the lower ends of thel posts for strengthening the latter and assisting in supporting said cross-betting substantially as described.

Q. Tliecombination with the side-sheet, of sn angle 1S secured to tlie lower edge thereof and tiiisli iitligtthe. top surface of the undert'raining of he car,.iloor-sheets attached to 'd angle andto the underlraming; sub- -ntially as described. i- The combination with a car body, of noaiy holsters continuous from side to side of the car, end sills, draft sills extending betrseen the end sills and body holsters, sills EN ext-ending from the body holst-ers inwsnily, and sills 23 at tached` to the inner ends ot said sills 2l j substantially as described.

t1. The combination with a car body, of body holsters continuous from side to side thereof, and sectional sills, the middle secti ns of said sills being parallel throughout tis. r lengths in the middle portion of the car, 'time intermediate sections converging toward other as Ythey approach the body bolsters, to which they ari` attached, and the :ver or end section being parallel 'to each :er and forming supports for the draftrigging; siibstaiitiall as described.

32. The combination with a car body, of sminnous body holsters extending from Ee to side thereof, cross beams arranged nsi'crsely the car and suspended from the c e sides, channel-beam sills arranged under ti car body and in the plane of the body bols. said sills being composed of sections ed together. the joints occurring over the. ss beams, and independent drait sills at- -ted to the continuous body holsters; substantially as described. I

v ecges thereof, sills for supporting the lloor,

exten ding flush with the top face of said cover i plate, and means for securing said center sill to the bolster; substantially as described.

14. The combination With a bolster, and

its top cover plate, of a. center sill member whose top flange is ilush with the top of the cover late, a connection plate attached to the bo ster, and a splice plate connecting the center sill member and the said connection plate; substantiallyas described.

I 1 n .w r...-.............vv-

.par

15. The combination with a bolster, having top and bottom cover plates, of a flange connection plate attached to said parts, a splice plate attached to said cover plates and to sai connection plate, and a center sill member attached to said splice plate; substantially as described.

16. The combination Withan end sill, of a body bolster continuous from side to side of the car, flanged draft sills extending between and attached to the end sill and body bolster, a flanged. center sill member whose top Harige is on a plane above the plane of the flanges of the draft sills, and means for attaching said center sill member to the body bolster; substantially as described.

17. The combination with an end sill, of a l body bolster continuous Ifrom side to side of acar, cover plates for said bolster, draft sills extending between the end sill and body bolster, said draft sills being attached to said parts and the top and bottom cover lates, the depth of said draft s ills being su stantially co-incident with the depth of the body bolster, a flanged center sill member, whose top flange is flush with the upper surface vof the top cover plate, and connection and splice plates for attaching sm'd center sill member to the body. bolster; substantially as described.

18. The combination with a body bolster and its top cover plate, of a flanged center sill member whose top flange is ilush with the f u per surface of the to cover plate, an end sil, depressed draft si extending between the end sill and body bolster, and diagonal braces which are flush with the top cover late of the bolster; substantially as described).

19. The combination with an underframing, including a body bolster, top cover plate for said bolster, diagonal braces, center sills and floor beams, of loor sheets arranged upon and attachedv to said parts, the contiguous ends 'of said lloor sheets forming butt oints; substantially as described.

20. ln a car, the combination with an under-framing, including a body bolster continuous from, side to side of a car, centersills, transversely arranged floor beams, of Afloor sheets 31, 32, 33 and 35 attached to said parts, the contiguous edges of said floor l=.;\\,\ sheets forming butt joints; substafllltiallyv as' a top\\cover a bott-om cover plate likewise riveted to tle 1 bottom flanges of the bolster and draft at their junction points, and means for coni,

necting the center sills to the bolster; sub-"f stantially as described.

22. The combination with end and side sills, of continuous body holsters extend` from side sill to side sill and secured thereto, top and bottom cover plates for said holsters which extend approximately to the ends 0 the holsters, and are widest in substantially the plane of the draft rigging, diagonal braces extending from the junction of the end andl side sills inwardly and in converging lines, j

the inner ends thereof bein attached to the top cover late of the bo ster, connection plates at t 1e iunction of the end and side sills, to which the outer ends of said diagonal braces are connected, and a lloor sheet at tached to the sidesill, the top cover plate of the bolster, and to said diagonal braces; substantially as described.

25,'. A metallic railway-ear comprising sid walls, stakes. secured thereto, transverse [loer-sup iorts, and connecting and reinforc ing members secured to the side Walls and to the floor-supports and having the lower ends or` the stakes riveted thereto.

24. In a railway car, av plate girder side having vertical stiflening members, a top guard angle forming a compression lla e and secured to the upper edfre of thecar si e by one oi its legs, the other lieg standing outwardl and means for strengthening and-reintorcmg the outer edge of said outstanding leg; substantially as described.

25. ln a railway car, the combination with thc car side and the vertical stilening members or stakes thereof, of a flanged bar or cg guard angle secured to the upper edge of sai car side and stakes aforesaid, and provided with a bulb or reinforcement integral with its outstanding edge.

26. The combination with a ear side and the' vertical stifening member or stakes thereof, of a flanged bar or top guard angle, one leg of which is secured to the inner s1de of the upper edge of said car side and to said stakes, and' having an outwardly projecting lcg provided with an integral bulb or thickeningr on the exterior edge thereof.

27: In a railway car, a flanged bar or angle of special form, one leg of which is plain and` attached vertically to the inside of the upper edge of the car side, the other leg extending horizontally outwards and reinforced or pro hereof7 hereunto aix my i with a bulb on the lowe seme, of two Witnesses, terrier 1901. GEQRfC-E I. 5G.

and sakes to the car side. 

